FY2024 Defense Budget Request: Space-based Satellite Programs

FY2024 Defense Budget Request: Space-based Satellite Programs

INSIGHTi

FY2024 Defense Budget Request: Space-based
Satellite Programs
June 13, 2023
Introduction
The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) develops, procures, and deploys satellites in various orbits to
enable space operations aligned with operations in other domains. DOD’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 funding
request for Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation (RDT&E) and Procurement of space-based
satellites includes upgrades to existing satellites and development and procurement of new satellites. In
considering this funding request, Congress may assess whether to authorize and appropriate FY2024
funds at amounts equal to, less than, or greater than DOD’s request. Congress may base this assessment
not only on DOD’s requested satellite funding and acquisition schedules, but also on analysis of program
performance, industry trends, business cases for military use, and alternative procurement strategies,
For FY2024, DOD requested $26.1 billion for the “development and procurement of spacecraft; launch
vehicles; space command and control systems; and terrestrial satellite terminals and equipment.” This
represents a $4.4 billion increase over the department’s FY2023 request. According to DOD, $11.0 billion
of the FY2024 request would fund acquisition of satellites through three broad efforts: the GPS
Enterprise; space-based missile warning systems; and satellite communications (SATCOM) (see Table 1).
Congressional testimony and public statements from the Director of the National Reconnaissance Office
(NRO) in April and May of 2023 suggest that an indeterminate portion of the remaining $15.1 billion may
fund classified satellite programs, including programs that may be managed jointly by NRO and the U.S.
Space Force.
Table 1. Summary of Selected Fiscal Year 2024 DOD Space-based Satellite Funding
in Millions of U.S. dollars
FY2023 Enacted
FY2024 Request
DOD Program
RDT&E
Procurement
RDT&E
Procurement
Global Positioning System
953.9
753.5
980.1
279.7
Enterprise
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FY2023 Enacted
FY2024 Request
DOD Program
RDT&E
Procurement
RDT&E
Procurement
Space-Based Missile Warning
4,548.1
148.7
4,927.0
39.4
Systems
Satellite Communications Projects
2,735.4
881.8
4,146.2
592.9
Source: DOD, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptrol er)/Chief Financial Officer, Program Acquisition Cost by
Weapon System: United States Department of Defense, Fiscal Year 2024 Budget Request, April 2022.
Note: Table data aggregate funding across all DOD RDT&E and Procurement appropriations. Totals may include an
indeterminate portion of classified funding.
Discussion: Satellite Programs
Global Positioning System (GPS) Enterprise
GPS satellites, which DOD budgets often refer to as space vehicles (SVs) due to their capacity for
propulsion, provide “world-wide, 24-hour a day, all-weather, 3-dimensional positioning, navigation, and
timing (PNT) information for military and civilian users.” By law, the Secretary of Defense is responsible
for assuring the sustainment and continuous operation of GPS services.
The U.S. Space Force is responsible for developing, maintaining, and operating GPS SVs and ground
control systems. DOD’s FY2024 budget request includes programs to modernize GPS SVs for civilian
and military uses in addition to enhancing military user equipment and satellite control. DOD requested
FY2024 Procurement funds for GPS III satellites ($121.8 million); GPS III follow-on satellites ($119.7
million); and GPS cryptographic security devices ($0.89 million). DOD requested FY2024 RDT&E funds
to develop GPS III follow-on satellites ($309.0 million); the GPS III Next Generation Operational Control
System ($317.3 million); and Military GPS User Equipment ($353.8 million).
Space-Based Missile Warning Systems
DOD explains that it modernizes space-based missile warning systems (i.e., upgrades existing systems
and develops new systems) in order to rapidly and reliably detect and track strategic missile attacks “on
the United States, its deployed forces, and its allies,” regardless of launch origin. DOD’s modernization
efforts to perform these functions include the Next Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared (OPIR) and
Resilient Missile Warning and Missile Tracking (MW/MT) programs. They are intended to respond to
adversary efforts to destroy, jam, or disable satellites and degrade satellite data processing, according to
testimony by the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space Policy.
DOD requested $4,927.0 million in FY2024 RDT&E funds for OPIR and MW/MT efforts intended to
eventually field 3 satellites in geosynchronous orbit; 2 in highly elliptical orbit; 39 in low earth orbit
(LEO); and up to 9 in medium earth orbit. These satellites would replace an existing Space-Based
Infrared System (SBIRS) developed in the mid-1990s and launched beginning in 2004.
Satellite Communications Projects
As of August 15, 2022, the U.S. Space Force manages all day-to-day satellite communications
(SATCOM) missions for the Armed Services. Space Force reports SATCOM RDT&E and Procurement
projects in three capability sets: strategic, protected tactical, and wideband and narrowband. According to
DOD, the purpose of these sets is to provide “survivable, anti-jam, low probability of
detection/interception, and worldwide secure and survivable communications for tactical and strategic

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users.” Strategic SATCOM efforts focus on nuclear weapon command-and-control. Protected tactical
SATCOM focuses on enabling secure communications among combat forces despite adversary efforts to
deny access to portions of the electromagnetic spectrum. Wideband and narrowband SATCOM satellites
aim to ensure high-data-rate global communications (wideband) and clear voice and data communication
regardless of weather conditions (narrowband).
DOD’s FY2024 SATCOM request includes $4,146.2 million for RDT&E and $592.9 million for
Procurement, including the following unclassified efforts.
Strategic
The Evolved Strategic SATCOM (ESS) program request comprises $632.8 million in FY2024 to develop
prototype satellites, mission control hardware, and cryptographic units for modernized advanced
extremely high frequency (AEHF) nuclear command and control communications. AEHF satellites are
located in geostationary orbit 22,000 miles above earth’s surface, “optimal for continuous earth
coverage.” DOD states that the “strategic need date” for delivering a complete operational ESS capability
is FY2032.
Protected Tactical
DOD’s FY2024 request included $360.1 million for Protected Tactical SATCOM prototypes designed to
allow testing of new space technology on-orbit. An additional $76.6 million would support software and
ground infrastructure design to allow deployed forces to bypass jammed satellites and securely access
commercial and military SATCOM (in multiple orbits) during combat.
Wideband and Narrowband
DOD’s FY2024 request included $230.8 million to increase SATCOM resilience against electromagnetic
interference for dismounted servicemembers, ground vehicles, ships and aircraft; $101.1 million to
upgrade radio access and satellite control facilities; $56.5 million to procure Wideband Global SATCOM
sub-system components; and $49.4 million to optimize communication beams and enhance power control
of wideband SATCOM.
Congress may respond to DOD budget requests for satellite programs aimed toward ensuring space
operations meet the requirements of future combat.

Author Information

Cameron M. Keys

Analyst in Defense Logistics and Resource Management
Policy

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